Hyperbolas are used in finding positions. A ship at sea can pick upsignals form several radar beacons. Knowing the difference in the patternsin the signals received gives the difference in the distances to thebeacons. So, a navigator can determine, using two of the beacons, ahyperbola . The ship's position is a point on that hyperbola. Using athird beacon, the navigator can determine a second hyperbola. Since thenavigator knows roughly where he is , he can find out exactly where he isby finding the intersections of the hyperbolas. seismologists use asimiar method to determine earthquake positions.

Examples of these applications of hyperbolas can be found in the newer"MTV" Algebra II books.